The creek corridor trail was teeming with activity and song this morning. There were newly arrived Tree Swallows circling over the confluence ponds and I found my first Chipping Sparrow of the year near the end of Clark Street. "Chippies," as some like to call them, are common throughout most of North America during the spring and summer season. Though abundant, I find them to be delightful and spunky backyard characters, replacing the Dark-eyed Juncos that kept me company throughout the winter season.
Location: Pheasant Branch
Observation date: 4/7/11
Number of species: 47
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Mallard
Blue-winged Teal
Green-winged Teal
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
American Coot
Sandhill Crane
Killdeer
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Great Horned Owl
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Golden-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
Chipping Sparrows © 2011 Mike McDowell